Habitat-built solar-powered home to open in Maine

OAKLAND, Maine (AP) — The first solar-powered Habitat for Humanity home in New England is being opened to the public.

The beige ranch house in Oakland will open on Sunday after 15 months of construction.

Mike Grant, a member of the Waterville area organization's chapter's board of directors, tells the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1a6Fm4j ) that the opening ceremony will thank the nearly 100 volunteers and 50 companies that helped make the construction possible.

The home was built for preschool teacher Joni Sprague, her twin 3-year-old daughters, and her mother. It has two rows of 16 photovoltaic panels on the roof to gather light.

While she'll pay $60 more on her mortgage, she'll save about $100 in utility bills each month.